What’s up, insomniacs! Here are fun things to do in Vegas at 2 a.m.

You already know you can party through the late night hours at the Strip’s biggest megaclubs. And unless you’ve never set foot in Vegas, you know gambling and late-night café spots are around the clock. But to jazz up your Vegas trip a bit (and you have the case of 2 a.m. insomnia), we have some unique things to do in Vegas that you wouldn’t typically expect. Even for Sin City.

Woo hoo, here’s to 2 a.m. adventures! Let’s get the party started.

Places to eat

Mmmm….late night munchies are the best, right? And no offense to Denny’s or IHOP, but sometimes we want more of a variety than you can get anywhere else. We’re talking pho noodle soup, fresh oven-baked pizza, exotic ice cream flavors and barbecue short ribs for all you meat lovers. Even if you’re not coming from a wild night, these are reasons to drop everything but your waist size.

You had us at this. Photo courtesy of Peppermill Lounge.

Peppermill Fireside Lounge – 2985 S. Las Vegas Blvd.Open 24 hours dailyLocated on the north end of the Strip, this longtime Vegas favorite has been around since 1972. Sure, you can grab a cocktail and sit by the bar’s central fire pit, but the food at Peppermill Fireside Loungewill probably leave you satisfied until lunch the next day. There are plenty of breakfast speicals, but you can go fancy with the crab cake Bene, poached eggs and grilled crab cakes atop an English muffin, smothered with Hollandaise sauce. If you’re not in the mood for breakfast, the restaurant/lounge also serves up shrimp cocktail, sandwiches and wraps. You can try the signature burger served on grilled sourdough. After your hearty meal, you can wash it down with a key lime pie martini or the Scorpion, Peppermill’s 64-ounce signature cocktail.

Secret Pizza at The Cosmopolitan of Las VegasOpen until 4 a.m. on weekdays; 5 a.m. on weekends
The secret is definitely out, but it’s still fun walking down the hidden and narrow corridor to get here. Plus, the aroma of that fresh pizza at Secret Pizza is unforgettable. You can get pizza by the slice or an entire pie with all your favorite toppings. The dining area is small, but you can always take your food back out to the lounge area only steps away. Whether you’re coming in or out of this place, make sure to peep all the vintage album covers that line the hallway.

Hold on guys! We have to pull some cupcakes out. Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment.

Sprinkles cupcake ATM at The LINQ PromenadeOpen 24 hours
No Vegas trip would be complete without stopping by and getting cupcakes out of an ATM. Located inside The LINQ Promenade, this convenient machine satisfies your sweet tooth with yummy goodness. Even though you’ll have a wider variety during store hours, we’re just happy we can pull our card out and a cupcake comes out. That’s a huge part of the fun. There are seats right next to the cupcake ATM and you can admire views of the 550-foot-tall High Roller wheel. Talk about taking your midnight milk and cookies snack up a notch.

Soyo Korean Restaurant – 7775 S. Rainbow Blvd. Suite 105
Open until 3 a.m. Monday – Thursday; 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2 a.m. Sunday
Located in the southwest part of town, we say it’s way worth it to venture off the Strip to come here. Plus, at 2 a.m., the drive is only about 15 minutes anyway. There are so many things we love about this local favorite. Maybe it’s the catchy K-Pop and Korean hip-hop blaring throughout the restaurant. Maybe it’s the delicious Jap Chae (clear noodles stir-fried with veggies, soy sauce and sesame oil) that keeps us wanting more. Or maybe it’s the overall atmosphere and the outdoor patio that puts us in the zone. The Korean barbecue beef short ribs and fried rice omelets are popular favorites. Plus, we enjoy the complimentary barley tea and appetizers that hold us over before our meal. The free appetizers change daily, but they include mac salad, seaweed salad, kim chi, bite-sized potatoes, rice and a whole lot more.

Perfect Scoop – 7377 S. Jones Blvd. Suite 115Open until 2 a.m. dailyWhile you’re in the neighborhood, you might as well stop at another southwest favorite. Perfect Scoop has not-your-average ice cream flavors ranging from taro, lychee and red bean to timeless favorites like cookies and cream, butter pecan and strawberry. You can even get a macaron ice cream sandwich or – wait for it – a Krispy Kreme ice cream sandwich, complete with sprinkles and toppings of your choice. Coffee and boba milk teas are also available, as well as a bevy of vegan options (big hooray for this blogger). If you’re coming with your crew, you can pull up a few chairs and play some board games. Seriously, where was this place when we were kids?

Pho Kim Long – 4029 Spring Mountain Road
Open 24 hours daily
OK, OK we’ll wait for you to get it out of your system. Done giggling and texting your friends about the name yet? Good. As funny as the restaurant’s name sounds, this is one of the most popular late night joints in town. Located in the heart of Chinatown, this place is crackin’ at 2 a.m. You’ll see a bunch of club goers and large crowds, guaranteed. Plus, if you have the kids with you (which we strongly question at 2 in the morning), there’s a huge aquarium in the front to distract them for a bit. Besides getting pho noodle soup (they also serve veggie broth), you can order so much more. Popular dishes include charbroiled pork with vermicelli noodles, roasted duck, barbecue pork fried rice, deep fried chicken wings and spicy beef vermicelli. If you’re crazy about Sriracha sauce as much as we are, you can cool down with Thai tea or coconut juice.

Places to drink

Of course you can get drinks anywhere at 2 a.m. Come on, this is Vegas. But where to get your drinks is half the fun. Plus, if you’re tired of waiting at an overcrowded bar at the busiest nightclub or just want something more low key, we’ve got your back. As for your ride home, however, that’s another story.

Frankie’s Tiki Room – 1712 W. Charleston Blvd.
Open 24 hours daily
Couldn’t make it to the tropics this year? That’s OK. After a couple of drinks here, you’ll feel like you’re right there. It’s hard not to, especially when you’re surrounded by tiki statues, figures and other island-themed decor. Located on Charleston Boulevard just off the Interstate 15 freeway, Frankie’s Tiki Room is not really close to the Strip or downtown. But we can tell you it’s worth the adventure. And it’s very smoky, so just expect that smell versus exotic wild flowers or the ocean. The rum drinks are crazy strong and they don’t even taste like alcohol. Popular choices are the Tiki Bandit (made with several different rums, pineapple juice, passion fruit syrup and blue Curacao) and Thurston Howl (rum, brandy, gin and papaya nectar). All drinks are $9. If you want to take a piece back home with you, order your drink in a souvenir mug for $25.

Photo courtesy of Artisan hotel.

Artisan Boutique Ultra LoungeOpen 24 hours
We absolutely love Artisan. This is one of those late-night spots where you’ll leave and it’s already light outside. Been there, done that. While it’s really just the hotel’s lobby bar, it feels more like an exclusive vintage-inspired nightclub. You can enjoy live DJ music select nights and admire replicas of paintings by famous artists. And if you’re not in the bar, the hotel lobby is a fun place to kick back and socialize.

Drai’s After Hours inside The Cromwell
Open from 1 a.m. – 8 a.m., Thursday through Sunday
While most people wind down after midnight, this Drai’s After Hours doesn’t even open until 1 a.m. Talk about a late-night party. Located underground at The Cromwell, you’ll surely appreciate the pin-up photography, leather-clad booths and romantic lighting in the 13,000-square-foot lounge. Fun fact: This is the location of the original Drai’s After Hours when the property used to be Barbary Coast.

Places to sightsee (besides the Strip itself)

Eating and drinking are super important, but so is hitting up fun attractions that stay open around (or almost around) the clock. These are just a few of our favorites.

The sky won’t look like this at 2 a.m., unless you’ve had one too many. Photo courtesy of Las Vegas Weekly.

Welcome to Las Vegas signOpen 24 hours daily
This iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign greets you on the south end of the Strip, closest to Mandalay Bay hotel. The famous sign reads “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada” on the front side with “Drive Carefully” and “Come Back Soon” on the back. It was created in 1959 but being able to park here and take pictures wasn’t available until a few years ago. The parking lot is a bit tricky: You have to be driving south (away from the Strip) to get in. Otherwise, you’ll need to make a U-turn. Once you’re here, get ready to take your perfect “Wish you were here” selfie to commemorate your trip.

Bellagio Conservatory always finds a way to get creative with flowers. Photo courtesy of Vegas.com.

Bellagio ConservatoryOpen 24 hours, daily
This will always be one of our favorites. And at 2 a.m., you can stroll around a lot more comfortably than, let’s say, 2 p.m. We love the Bellagio Conservatory, but during the day it gets so crowded that it’s hard to take pictures or admire the beautiful gardens without bumping into someone. It’s definitely a must-see Vegas attraction nonetheless and we’re always snapping away when we’re here. One of our top favorite displays is the winter one – the polar bears made up of thousands of white flowers are just too adorable for words.

High Roller observation wheel, photo by Denise Truscello.

High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ Promenade
Open until 1 a.m., daily
OK, so this one is not exactly open at 2 a.m., but pretty darn close. Plus, after your ride you can hit up the aforementioned Sprinkles cupcake ATM to make it a 2-for-1 late night trip. Standing at a towering 550 feet high, the High Roller wheel is the tallest of its kind. Each cabin can fit up to 40 people, so we’re curious about the peeps you’ll meet after midnight. The ride is about a half hour long and there is plenty of seating so you can rest. The views are phenomenal, especially of the Flamingo pool and the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas.

Places to treat yo’self

Last, but most certainly not least, what’s a late night without treating yourself? We’re talking the works: massages, tattoos and even clothes shopping. There’s more to see and do in Vegas than you would have imagined.

Glam Factory Vintage – 211 E. Colorado Ave.
Open until 6 a.m.
We’re all about vintage wear. And if you’re all about trying on outfits from the 1940s to the 1970s at 2 a.m., you’re in luck. You’ll also find fun collectibles here that’ll work as souvenirs. And since this spot is always getting new, er, new “old” stuff, you’ll always have a fresh selection to browse through. It’s one of the city’s greatest hidden gems and also comes in handy if you need something for a last-minute Vegas-themed party. Oh, and they have shoes too. Score!

Number 1 Foot Reflexology – 4825 W. Flamingo RoadOpen until 2 a.m. daily
A foot massage just before 2 a.m.? It sounds both soothing and suspicious, we know. But if you’ve been trekking in heels all night (or walking everywhere on the Strip), then we’re sure you’d put those feelings to the side. Plus, daytime massages sometimes interfere with your itinerary. This is open so late, we’re sure you’ll probably knock out after your massage. Take note that it’s not like the fancy spas you see on the Strip; it’s definitely a no-frills kind of place. But the soothing music and dim lighting will make you at ease anyway. If you’re with your sweetie or your bestie, they have private rooms that seat more than one.

Fox and Hound Tattoo Shop inside the Stratosphere hotel
Open 24 hours daily
Getting a tattoo in Vegas sounds a bit cliché, but if you don’t care about that (or you just want to do something daring) and feel like getting inked, then this is your spot. If you get a chance to look at the artists’ past work, this is definitely not your average parlor. It might even convince tattoo virgins to consider getting one. Fox and Hound Tattoo also does ear, eyebrow, belly and nose piercings. If you do get a tattoo, you’ll always tie it to your Vegas trip, that’s for sure.

We realize this isn’t even close to all the town’s 2 a.m. establishments, so let’s just consider this your head start. You can always check out our comprehensive Vegas Guide to create your perfect late-night (or all-day) shenanigans.

Comments

Most folks take their Vegas jackpot winnings back home, but my dad decided to stay here instead. That’s how I left Seattle almost 20 years ago. I moved from greenery and rainy days to hot summers, palm trees and desert. As much as I love my hometown, I decided to stick around Vegas. This city just has so much to offer. You don’t even have to be a gambler, bar hopper or an all-night partier. I love Vegas for its awesome vegan-friendly spots, concerts, swanky hotel suites and spas so big, they’re like castles. The pool scene is not too shabby either, which is why I love taking stay-cations. Besides living it up -- Vegas style -- I’m hanging out with my handsome hubby, adorable baby girl, two cats and super-fluffy Shih-Tzu. I’m also a huge fan of '90s music, shows and movies. You can find me on Google+ and Twitter.